Leonova too much like a poor womens Slutskaya

I find Leonova looks too much like a very poor womens Slutskaya. And as such inevitably you watch her skate you cant help comparing the two as they are so similar, and Leonova falls short by direct comparision in basically every department even when she skates very well. I think she needs to develop her own identity and own unique strengths (if possible) to move to the next level. Does anyone else agree.

I read somewhere that Slutskaya cried tears of joy for Leonova after her program. Maybe because Leonova reminded her of herself?
I don't think Leonova will ever have a Slutskaya-like career. I think this year was her only shot at a World medal and she came dangerously close to the podium.

I might have seen it two years, but not anymore. Leonova's programs this year went a long way to develop her own signature style, and whatever her achievements are in the future, she's nobody's copycat.

Alena and Irina share the same kind of perkiness (although I think Alena is MORE perky), but Alena is way more voidy than Irina. I agree that Alena isn't on the same level as Irina though, at least not yet. I don't see her winning a world title ever and she may not ever make it onto a podium, although I could see her getting a bronze if she skates really well and others don't.

This year was definitely her best chance at a World medal. Makarova and Leonova are going to have to really upgrade and improve to keep their spots on the Russian team with the army of juniors coming up.

I find Leonova looks too much like a very poor womens Slutskaya. And as such inevitably you watch her skate you cant help comparing the two as they are so similar, and Leonova falls short by direct comparision in basically every department even when she skates very well. I think she needs to develop her own identity and own unique strengths (if possible) to move to the next level. Does anyone else agree.

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How many threads in the trash can do you plan on starting during the summer?

Leonova Rocks. Leave her alone. She is her own skater. As much as I really like Irina and thought she had great personality on the ice, the two programs that Leonova put out there is season were so much more choreographically interesting and diverse than what Irina did when she was competing.

A lot of threads you are starting have something in common. Pick up 2 skaters, claim how brilliant first skater is and what a rubbish is the other skater. Last year it was Yu-Na versus Mao, recently it was Michelle Kwan versus Yu-Na, Yamaguchi versus Kim, now Slutskaya versus Leonova...

Leonova Rocks. Leave her alone. She is her own skater. As much as I really like Irina and thought she had great personality on the ice, the two programs that Leonova put out there is season were so much more choreographically interesting and diverse than what Irina did when she was competing.

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I agree.

And I find Leonova much more musical than Slutskaya, and she looks like she is enjoying herself when she skates, unlike Slutskaya whose skating was very business-like.

A lot of threads you are starting have something in common. Pick up 2 skaters, claim how brilliant first skater is and what a rubbish is the other skater. Last year it was Yu-Na versus Mao, recently it was Michelle Kwan versus Yu-Na, Yamaguchi versus Kim, now Slutskaya versus Leonova...

People will always say things like this, Leonova is a poor man's Slutskaya, Gao is a poor man's Kim, Dobbs is a poor man's Lepisto, Hicks is a poor man's Cohen, Shoji is a poor man's Arakawa, Nagasu is a poor man's Yamaguchi, yada yada....and then there are the reoccuring random debates like Kim vs. Kwan, Asada vs. Ito, Czisny vs. Cohen, etc. People will compare, but ultimately each skater is unique and has his/her strengths and weaknesses.

Leonova isn't my cup of tea, but she's very voidy and interesting in a way Slutskaya never was, and when she's "on" her performances are very electric, IMO.

Slutskaya probably should have won 4 or 5 World titles and 2 Olympic Golds. There were many times more she would have a big title with a clean skate. She lacked the competitive nerve of Kwan or Lipinski though.